Comments on: Hamels handles Harper, Natshttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/
News, analysis and commentary from someone who has covered the Washington Nationals since Day 1Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:42:01 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: Soul Possession, My PFB Hitterish Sofahttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114239
Thu, 24 May 2012 16:20:01 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114239Slide, Kelly, SlideRecorded by George J. Gaskin (1893)Published by Frank Harding, New York (1889)Slide, Kelly, Slide!Your running's a disgrace!Slide, Kelly, Slide!Stay there, hold your base!If some one doesn't steal you,And your batting doesn't fail you,They'll take you to Australia!Slide, Kelly, Slide!
]]>By: JDhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114223
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:54:37 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114223BTW; I think I've seen enough of Nady. If he has to be on the roster at least he should have his butt nailed to the bench; 1 at bat per game max. no?
]]>By: JDhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114222
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:53:09 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114222'JD, I dunno. Last year he was a mental case (he said so himself), dropping routine grounders and iffy at the plate. This year he is rising to the top of the SS list. Who is to say that next year he won't be better still? It's not as if he's thirty-five…' Very good points indeed. He just shouldn't treat walks as failures; the ultimate goal is to prevent making an out.It's as simple as that.
]]>By: JDhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114219
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:50:52 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114219Nats Lady, I agree with your Harper comments completely. I thought he had some of the best at bats against both Halladay and Hammels; much more professional at bats than Desi or Espi and for that matter RZ as well. Most of the mistakes in the fields are mistakes of youth and aggression; nothing lazy, no poor reads or jumps so it's all correctable.
]]>By: NatsLadyhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114218
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:50:21 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114218JD, I dunno. Last year he was a mental case (he said so himself), dropping routine grounders and iffy at the plate. This year he is rising to the top of the SS list. Who is to say that next year he won't be better still? It's not as if he's thirty-five…
]]>By: JDhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114215
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:46:45 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114215'Desmond shines in the moment and will never be a high OBP guy.' Which to me is what prevents him from being a star. The stats you mention are excellent and the defense has been great and if all that is sustainable then I will come over to your side. Interestingly enough Desi struck out taking on a pitch that was right down the middle against Paplebon in the 9th; go figure
]]>By: Ghost Of Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114209
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:34:50 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114209Section 222 said… Ghost, agreed. And don't get me started about head first slides. Harper seems to switch off, but too often is going in head first. I wish he'd just slide feet first all the time and protect himself. RZ too. After Nyjer got hurt I remember the Nats were making a big deal out of that. Looks like they've abandoned the project. Too bad. May 24, 2012 11:27 AM Rizzo should be requiring any of his guys who insist on doing head first slides to put on those hand and wrist protectors that many of the players are wearing once they get on base.
]]>By: Ghost Of Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114208
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:32:40 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114208JD, Desmond shines in the moment and will never be a high OBP guy. Thats not him so savor that the Runs Created are excellent. He is #1 in shortstop XBH in the Majors and #4 for shortstop slugging in the Majors and #5 in the Majors in Runs Created at a 26.5 rating.In his 44 high leverage plate appearances, he is slashing .381/.386/.643/1.029 which is #1 for shortstops.
]]>By: NatsLadyhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114205
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:27:25 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114205JD–I would say Harper is not "struggling" at the plate, he is "adjusting." Colbert–a lefty who has one of the best change-ups–threw him a bunch, and Harper didn't get them–YET. We knew that was a weakness, and so does he (and Eck). It's more in defense that I'd like to see improvement, but a lot of that is reps and maybe Werth and Ankiel helping him with where to position himself. I really liked that outfield assist/double-play, that is pure Jayson. (1) Learn your zone, and be aware of where other fielders are. They too can catch fly balls;(2) Throw in the direction of the cut off man, y'know, once in a while;(3) Play in more major-league parks. They each have their quirks, wind gusts, sun angles, etc. That just comes with time and experience.
]]>By: Section 222http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114204
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:27:15 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114204Ghost, agreed. And don't get me started about head first slides. Harper seems to switch off, but too often is going in head first. I wish he'd just slide feet first all the time and protect himself. RZ too. After Nyjer got hurt I remember the Nats were making a big deal out of that. Looks like they've abandoned the project. Too bad.
]]>By: NatsLadyhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114203
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:18:37 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114203Wasn't able to see much of the game due to work, and don't feel like watching Colbert today on mlb.tv, but I did see one of RZ's at bats (not the single) and he doesn't look like himself. Spent the morning reading the new CBA, which is now online, all 312 pages of it, in PDF. Most of it is not exciting, but one thing caught my eye: they are "sunsetting" the "luxury tax." It will not be in effect after 2016. What I'm wondering is, does that mean it will no longer exist or does that mean it can be renegotiated and the Yanks et al, can't assume it will exist after 2016?
]]>By: Ghost Of Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114202
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:16:04 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114202Section 222, I am with you. Until Flores got past 1st base he really started to run hard. The head first slide wasn't a great idea also. Harper would have been running for an inside the park HR in that same situation. Harp, Desi, Espi, and Lombo really show some great hustle which shows in their XBH numbers. It isn't always about raw speed rather hustling out of the box.
]]>By: JDhttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114201
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:15:34 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114201'LaRoche and Desi as a duo have carried this team and BHarper has really been a force in his 1st month of action.' LaRoche absolutely. Desi still has to get that OBP to a respectable area (it's .299 now) before I concede that he is a force; he has admittedly had an excellent power start to the season. I am just not sure that this is sustainable. Every time I see Harper I become more convinced of the fact that he will be a top echelon player for years to come; I'm talking Pujols, Kemp, Braun level; maybe better. I thought he needed to be in the minors all year and that he would struggle in the bigs but he's so much better than the alternatives even with the struggles.
]]>By: Section 222http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114200
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:06:37 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114200And been … still on third. Definition of nit-picking.Actually, he was shaken up by his slide into 3rd. Could have saved himself the pain by running hard out of the box. No, he didn't cost us the game. No one did last night, except maybe Bud Selig for not suspending Hamels for the rest of the year. But hustle makes a difference, in many obvious and not so obvious ways. Harper is showing us, and his much older and more experienced teammates, what's possible.
]]>By: Ghost Of Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114199
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:05:52 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114199Soul, when you think about it, that is one of those plays with Harper's hustle and -if- Bo holds Espi it is 2nd and 3rd with one out and Zimmerman stepping into the batters box.
]]>By: Soul Possession, My PFB Hitterish Sofahttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114198
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:05:41 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114198Wasn't that after Ruiz got the foul ball off his right hand?
]]>By: natsfan1ahttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114197
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:05:26 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114197I don't really care one way or the other about facing the O's (except that it's a break from the dual broadcast booth if we don't – yay), but could "prime" be referring to visiting teams that would draw higher ticket prices?NatsLady said… For those wondering about the Ballmer-Nats rivalry under the new format–sadly, not so much. It looks like every third year we would get the six game set. Interleague play will be based on a rotating division format, but may include no more than one series against a prime inter-league rival unless they play two two-game series.In the years when the corresponding divisions are scheduled for Interleague play, two series of three or fewer games against the prime inter-league rival may be played. May 24, 2012 9:51 AM
]]>By: Soul Possession, My PFB Hitterish Sofahttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114196
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:04:35 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114196That said, if Bo had held Espinosa, Harper might well have been out at second, since it was a good throw. But at least it would have taken 2 good throws to get him, it would probably have been close, and who knows, maybe Ruiz throws it into center.
]]>By: Soul Possession, My PFB Hitterish Sofahttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114195
Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114195 About Harper not taking 2nd on RZim's hit—I thought at the time that it should have been the coach's call. So who was Davey unhappy with, 1B coach or Harper???Harper, absolutely. Situation in front of him (Pence has a good arm, and likes to use it, not-plus speed on third), play in front of Harper (hard-hit one-hop right at Pence, who comes up throwing home), as soon as he confirms the throw is going to the plate, as he should already be taking a hard turn around first, he can accelerate to second. The one thing they aren't likely to do is throw behind him to first in that situation. Got to get to second there.But Bryce doesn't seem to mind correction at all. Good kid.
]]>By: Steady Eddiehttp://natsinsider.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-114194
Thu, 24 May 2012 14:53:31 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hamels-handles-harper-nats#comment-114194ehay2k @ 10:04 — I wasn't trying to get on you, you said it better than I did. I was just trying to indicate, in a little too cursory way, that we were on the same page that Harp had to say something.Sue @ 10:34 — wonder if McCatty's comments about HRod were a little good cop, bad cop. McC has to deal with all the pitchers in detail, daily, so he could then say "gee kid, I think you should get more chances to close, but the boss has to look at the big picture."
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